On Average...

So I had a thought today while cleaning the kitchen about how much of everything we use or go through. I thought I'd share with you.

On average I or we go through...
1 gallon (or more) of milk every two days
2 gallons of juice a day
2 bags of garbage a day
10 paper plates per meal (excluding supper)
2 loads of the dishwasher
2-3 loads of laundry a day
1 11 pound box of powdered laundry soap every 2 weeks
1 pack baby wipes week
I change about 12-14 diapers a day
GALLONS of water
we go grocery shopping (including household misc) every 2 weeks and average $$$
I/We sweep 3 times a day
I vacuum daily
and I find time to raise and love children and receive on average 100 hugs and kisses from smiling children DAILY
I find that life is busy and expensive but in that I find LOVE AND HAPPINESS!!

HAVE A GREAT DAY!!

Dr.Visits

I know I mentioned a few weeks or posts ago that Janaya and Jordon had some upcoming doctor visits but didn't give a report.
Janaya saw Dr. Karmazin at Sanford Children's on July 25th for what was suspected to be Hypothyroidism and we were quite nerved at the thought of her starting medication at 4yrs old that she would have to probably take the rest of her life! When the doctor came in he was so cheerful and about laughing at her case, I a bit alarmed didn't understand his humor?! It turns out to our benefit the lab made a "mistake" and that she in fact has no Thyroid problem and the 2nd test showed her to be absolutely normal!! YAY!! So we just discussed ways of helping a child with "eating" behaviors to control it! Most of the time I was finishing his sentence or saying "Ya we already do that" because of the program we did with Jordon when he was having such trouble! Anyway GREAT doctor and a healthy girl!

Jordon saw Dr. Blake again on Monday the 28th of July. He is down 7 pounds!!!!! Huge accomplishment for him, and he is 52 1/2 inches tall now! He looks very good and well proportioned! Dr. Blake was very pleased with how the summer is going as opposed to how most of our summers have gone. Jordon needs complete STRUCTURE and if you sway so does he! I am spending my 2nd summer home with the kids and notice quite the difference.
Jordon still continues to struggle with a few behaviors that we can't seem to find a way to stop them completely. Sometimes they are not so frequent and sometimes daily. The first problem which is also our most troublesome is bed wetting! This happens about 5 out of 7 days and is not pleasant for Jordon or I. We wash bedding DAILY and usually replace it quite often. Now to help we have plastic on the mattress and he is limited on drink in the evening and always goes before bed! We talked a bit about medications to help but the side affects are not pleasant and Jordon has always had issues with side affects, if they are possible he gets them!
The second behavior is Stealing. If Jordon wants something he will focus on it (OCD) until he gets it. He loves money, tools and cars and trucks. He takes money from me on a regular basis but I almost always catch it and retrieve it. He has on two or three occasions taken from a store ranging from candy to a toothbrush (it was a spinning one)! We are constantly working to teach him the consequences of his actions. Dr. Blake put it quite frank, " if he steals and gets caught they aren't going to always say oh he has a disability so its ok" ! I have often thought of trying a "mock arrest" but don't know if I can get that done or how to do it, I just know Jordon learns from experience and hands on, words don't phase him and thats just how his mind works?!
On the other hand doctor says Jordon is better than he ever hoped he'd be and to keep up the good work!! I'm not perfect and I don't really know anyone who is so he can't be expected to be either!! We will start the school year and see him again in January 2009. I'm interested to see how school goes as he will not only have a new classroom teacher to deal with but also a new Special Ed teacher as well.

It is a month from school starting and time to start shopping for school supplies and clothes and shoes and oh my goodness!! HA! I also have my 10 year HS reunion this month and my Anniversary as well. Fun and busy thats my motto!!

Braedyn and swimming

This weekend we took the kids fishing and swimming out at Lake Herman. They love doing both of these alot. My sisters kids are still staying with us and its looking like they will go this weekend to visit there Dad and will either come back on Sunday or start a new daycare in Sioux Falls where they will live. They have been with me 60 plus hours a week for the last year and now constantly for almost 2 weeks, we are VERY attached and I'm just like mommy to them and Brit daddy so I'm not looking forward to the seperation and trying to find a way to handle it smoothly for them. I got some hurt feel bads about it though!
Other news Daycare is still full, and even though Brae and Natalye will be going I have 2 more 3yrs and 1yr starting within the week. Its a full house, it took some time but I feel satisfied with how I am doing!!
Would like to share an idea Brit and I have been talking about and maybe get some input from others?! We are thinking about trading this mobile home in for a new and double wide model? I have been eyeing one from Iseman Homes in Sioux Falls that is 28X70 4 bed 2 bath and would have 500sq ft extra room and has a family room in the middle plus a more formal living room. That room could be for daycare to keep it more seperate from our personal space and things. My children really do well with sharing there things and letting kids play in there rooms but they would like some "private" space and should its their home! It also would have all brandnew GE stainless steel appliances. It can be checked out on line its New Moon model. Any input would be helpful!

I also am posting a video from the lake swimming, a few weeks ago Brae would play mostly on the beach and not in the water much or without help!

It's Monday...again..

I always dread Monday's as they are forever BUSY and things just seem to be in dissaray. It takes all morning to get it right and then it's better. Today is Monday...and once again it's just off and the phone started ringing at like 8:30 and didn't stop for like hours. I had doctors to call and doctors calling me, friends and family needing help and one more thing...oh ya 10 kids. Thats another paragraph though. HA! For starters Jordon't meds, he takes 2 of them daily every month and on Friday we hit a glitch. Anyway after mix ups it got straightened out and we have the meds. Even one day honestly throws him off!
Then the clinic called about blood results from Janaya that were taken Friday at her pre-school physical. We discussed concern for her CONSTANT hunger and weight. She is 43 inches tall and 59 pounds at 4yrs old?! The problem: her Thyroid! Her levels are low and Dr. Beecher said she will need to check again this week and she needs to see a Pediatric Endocrinologist. That is all set up for July 25th! She said she may need medication to help, YIKES at 4!!! We will meet the doc and see what happens, my mom has issues with hers as well so I might wanna have mine checked, Julia's has and is fine.
Also have two house guests for the week, my sister is looking for a new place in Sioux Falls and in a bit of a struggle so they are staying with us!

OK, onto all these kids, 4 of them are mine to start! Then I have a family of 3 baby Tray's (6 months) 5 yr old brothers started daycare last Monday, they are twins! Then I have baby Camden (2months), a 3 year old boy and my niece (3) and nephew(2). Last week all 11 for the whole week, this week it will be just 10 now till Friday. I went from sort of busy to BUSY, HA!

We had a very relaxing weekend. We hung out alot and did some fishing with the kids. Julia got to go to Wild Water West again on Friday with her Godmother and her daughter all day...Oh I wished it was me...HA! I hope everyone has a good week!

Change of Plans...

Many times in life plans change and sometimes in a hurry! Thursday evening we had to make some big changes in our weekend!! It came to my attention during Julia's party that my step brother Jason was coming for the 4th and we don't see him much ! And then I found out that my sister was going to be having her baby that night!! WOW!! So we had to weigh some things out and decided to not go to Rapid. We instead went to Wild Water West Friday and then shopping in Sioux Falls during the day and then watched fireworks here in Madison with family!

The big news is Rowdy James Meyer was born Thursday July3rd, 2008 weighing 10 POUNDS even and 20 inches long, a very BIG BOY!! He and mom are doing well after a c-section as baby was breech. They released them on Saturday so they came directly to Madison from Yankton and everyone is enjoying the new baby!! I posted 3 slide shows from the last couple days! It was a totally great weekend and everyone had a great time!!

Check out my Slide Show!

Check out my Slide Show!

Check out my Slide Show!

Happy 4th of July!

I just wanted to wish everyone a Happy 4th of July! I hope everyone has a fun and safe holiday weekend! We will be leaving for Rapid in the early am and looking forward to some FUN STUFF!! This afternoon we have a b-day party for Julia at Gigglebee's! Will post pictures and all the other fun stuff when we get home!!
Happy Birthday to the USA!